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It
was Sarah’s first invitation back to the castle since 1992 when
newspaper photographs were published showing her ‘financial adviser’
John Bryan sucking her toes. She was staying at Balmoral at the time.

Despite
her divorce and subsequent exclusion from the Royal Family’s inner
circle, the Duke and Duchess have always remained on friendly terms.

Both have had other relationships but friends said neither had found lasting happiness after their divorce in 1996.

Royal opinion: The Queen has long been said to have remained fond of her former daughter-in-law, but Prince Philip is said to be baffled by Fergie and Prince Andrew's relationship

While she has still visited Balmoral since her divorce, it is thought to be the first time she has been invited to stay in the main castle on the Queen's estate since her marriage ended in 1996

The
Duchess was involved with Italian Count Gaddo della Gherardesca and
most recently Norwegian tycoon Geir Frantzen, who owns frozen food
company Findus.

Andrew has been linked to several wealthy socialites, most notably Kazakh entrepreneur Goga Ashkenazi.

Friends have suggested that the couple’s continuing ‘bond’ may have seen off their other relationships.

In
1999 the Duchess told an interviewer: ‘There was no reason for Andrew
and I to get divorced; there wasn’t another person in our lives to go
to.

'We got divorced
because I had to go out to work, and Andrew and I believed that it
wasn’t right for me to be commercial while I was still in the Royal
Family.’

Prince Andrew has continued to provide financial support for his ex-wife and in a 2009 interview he did not rule out remarrying.

Civil: Sarah Ferguson, pictured with her two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie on holiday in St Tropez, France, separated from Prince Andrew in 1992 but they remained on good terms

Family: Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson pose with their daughter Beatrice following her graduation ceremony at Goldsmiths College in London in 2011

Talking point: The Duke and Duchess of York, pictured together in London in 2000, have both previously spoken about getting married again

Joint effort: The Duchess of York, seen holding her second daughter Princess Eugenie in 1990, and Prince Andrew have raised their two daughters together

‘Do
we have to be married?’ he said. ‘Well, let’s put it another way, I can
neither confirm nor deny the possibility. We have two great children.
We still look after them.’

Some
friends said they believed the couple might remarry. One said: ‘It
wouldn’t surprise me at all. They are a wonderful couple together and,
better still, pretty amazing parents.’

Another, who saw them recently, said: ‘There has always been this bond between them and they are incredibly close.

'It
is, understandably, strange to some that they still live together so
many years after their divorce, but they really do get on brilliantly
and are hugely supportive of each other. Their biggest bond, however, is
the girls.’

Another source
said: ‘Balmoral wasn’t about them being back together, that was about
the Royal Family recognising that she had tried to turn her life around
and that they are still a family unit after all these years.’

A
spokesman for the Duchess ruled out a new relationship between the
pair. He said: ‘They continue to be joint parents and best friends and
try to set the best example for the girls.’

Close: The Queen, pictured next to Fergie at Princess Eugenie's christening at Sandringham in 1990, is said to remained fond of her daughter-in-law despite the scandals

Wedding bells: The Duke of York and Duchess of York, pictured on their wedding day in 1986, are said to be considering getting married for a second time

On good terms: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, pictured on their wedding day on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, have remained close since their divorce

PRINCE HARRY'S BACK IN AFRICA (THIS TIME WITH CRESS)

It's one of the wildest, most romantic spots on earth.

Little wonder, then, that Botswana is the place that Prince Harry returns to time and time again with the lady in his life. Every one of them.

He has just treated his latest girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, to a week-long safari holiday in the African wilderness.

Unfortunately for her, though, it was the very same spot he frequently romanced his ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, and has holidayed with his once rumoured love interest, Natalie Pinkham.

The couple are understood to have spent several glorious days sailing up and down the picturesque Okavango Delta on a rickety houseboat called the Kubu Queen, sleeping out under the stars.

It was the very same boat that the prince was photographed on with Miss Davy in 2008.